78 |
epper and George As members would be aware, the WA Branch has been steadfastly advocating for the return of Austra- lian-crewed and flagged coastal ships. Former seafarer Kyle McGinn MLC has been instrumental, co-chairing the Western Australian shipping supply chain taskforce. Their extensive report earlier this year strongly ad- vocated for the continued effort to bring vessels back to our shores with Australian flags and crews. The report’s focus on supporting Western Australia’s economy, especially in remote communities in the states north, and its emphasis on aiding during emergencies like floods, fires, and cyclones, couldn’t be more crucial. It also shed light on the significant challenges faced by our state, particularly our heavy reliance on the east-to-west rail line, which has proven vulnerable to flooding. Members remember the empty shelves during months of food shopping shortages - these recurring events are a stark reality.
: Conduct research into the markets for bulk, break- bulk and containerised trade between Singapore and Australia and the potential to capture a share of this through Australian flagged vessel(s) home- based in Western Australian port(s). Jointly with the Commonwealth, research the potential to use Australian flagged and crewed vessels to service Indian Ocean Territories. : Develop identified opportunities to enter into sponsorship partnerships with carriers serving Australia regularly, under which Western Austra- lian trainee maritime workers could rapidly attain sea time necessary for their qualifications. Spon- sorship arrangements could be piloted by WA ahead of broader adoption by states with similar aims with Commonwealth support. : Build on existing cadetship schemes such as that offered by Pilbara Ports Authority to improve the take-up, especially aimed at mineral exporters with regular charter arrangements with suitable ship owners. : Support efforts by the Australasian Railways Asso- ciation to identify sections of the east-west railway corridor in all states, which should be upgraded for much improved flood resilience. Develop stronger direct relationships with national rail track provid- ers such as the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in view of this state’s dependence on the rail corridor. : Establish a joint government-industry working group to examine the need for investment in new warehousing assets in Perth, to be used for main- taining inventory of essential long life grocery items and household goods beyond the commer- cially feasible levels currently held. Similarly exam- ine the need for a common user distribution centre in the NW of the state to support supermarket com- panies otherwise dependent on DCs in Perth and the long-distance highway network during annual
wet seasons and emergency events. The role of a DC would be to provide price stability and security for the region, and better support the distribution of routine and emergency supplies to indigenous communities throughout remote NW WA. Establish a stakeholder group to work on proposals for improved access for essential goods to remote NW areas, under the umbrella of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. To add to the major victories in the state shipping space, we are seeing the federal government start to progress their promise on delivering a strategic shipping fleet that ties in perfectly with the state taskforce report recommendations. We know the Labor government federally committed to seeing Australian flagged and crewed vessels return and we are fighting to see that promise met. The first step has been the strategic fleet taskforce federal- ly, of which our National Secretary Paddy Crumlin sits on, release their report earlier this month in Western Australia, with WA Branch secretary Will Tracey and Kyle McGinn. Here are some of the key recommendations from that report - to see all the recommendations and the government responses go to this website Australian Government Response to the Strategic Fleet Taskforce Final Report (infra- structure.gov.au) punch into google to find the link:
Furthermore, we are very happy to see the report’s recommendation for a shipping policy unit within the Department of Transport, a long-overdue step for our state.
See below the Key Recommendations from the WA Shipping Supply Chain Taskforce:
: Work with the Commonwealth Government and other states to agree on changes to the current coastal trading regime that would stimulate Aus- tralian flagged fleet development through level- ing the field with international carriers. Changes to Federal legislation and policy to be supported would include: 1. Reform to taxation laws relating to income tax payable by Australian seafarers and to the taxation of dividends earned by Australian ship owners; 2. Revision of rules applying under the Australian International Shipping Register to reduce the commercial restrictions on Australian carriers; and 3. Revision of rules applying to wholly Australian domestic voyages to incentivise the use of Australian flagged vessels. Support the ambitions of the Commonwealth government to develop a small fleet of strategic flagged vessels to be called on in emergency circumstances. In recognition of its relative isolation, Western Australia would be a good place to commence operation of an identified vessel to fulfil a specific strategic task, meeting the national strategic criteria.
: The proposal under current consideration is to charter a suitable vessel for operation in the Kimberley in the short term and can be offered as a pilot scheme to be jointly funded and man- aged with the Commonwealth, ahead of poten- tial deployment by the Commonwealth else- where in Australia as needed. : Seek formal Western Australian representation on any current and future national taskforces or working groups taking forward shipping policy and legislative reform proposals. : Fund the establishment of a shipping policy unit within the Dept of Transport to further the state’s aims to work with the Commonwealth to strengthen the Australian shipping industry, es- pecially in servicing Western Australian ports. : Develop a business case for a regular small scale east-west RoRO/container service to operate between WA and the eastern states. This service would augment land transport services and be available for some targeted emergency relief during local climatic or other disruptions to es- sential supply chains. A service of this nature would also be suitable for operation as a train- ing vessel for Western Australian seafarers.
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator